The 54th Pennsylvania Infantry in the Civil War

For the first two years of their service, the men in the 54th Pennsylvania felt forgotten. Assigned to guard the vital B&O Railroad, they did not receive extensive press coverage. Many wondered if their service mattered and worried their entire war would be "fought" protecting isolated railroad bridges and depots.

Everything changed in 1864 when the 54th Pennsylvania finally marched onto the field and fought in every major battle of the Shenandoah Valley Campaign. The next year, the regime...